Sanjay Dhandsa won the Red Hot Open gross title at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. EGC

By Matt Smith
Mark Hughes was the last man celebrating as Emirates Golf Club held its annual Red Hot Open competition this week, which sees men (three-quarter handicap) and women (full handicap) play from the red tees, offering a different but no easier challenge. The Stableford competition saw Hughes claim the overall title from the net division with a score of 38 points.

A back nine of 20 points for Hughes included gross birdies at the par-4 17th and the par-5 18th. Ken Owiti was runner-up with 36 points. This was down to net birdies on the 10th, 11th, 14th and 18th holes resulting in a back nine of 22 points.

In the gross division, Sanjay Dhandsa won with a score of 38. His round included gross eagles on both the 13th and 17th holes. James Yeomans was runner up with 37 points.

There were also two nearest-the-pin competitions. These were won by Arif Shuja on the 4th hole, and Niels Zilkens on the 15th.